Forests & trees

September 24, 2007September 24, 2007

NTFP and poverty

Collecting wild foods an “efficient method of subsistence.”

September 19, 2007September 19, 2007

Shifting the story on shifting cultivation

Shifting cultivation is generally reckoned to be not such a good idea. Eldis, the information service, has details of a report that says it can be OK, at least in the eastern Himalayas and under the right circumstances. Unfortunately the report itself seems to be behind a paywall, so I’ve been unable to read it. But I wonder, can shifting cultivation really support growing populations?

September 13, 2007

New Agriculturist

Latest New Agriculturist: focus on non-wood forest products.

September 10, 2007September 10, 2007

Forest cover increases in El Salvador

Trees grow on money.

September 6, 2007

Scottish oaks

Protecting an ancient oak forest in Scotland.

1. The COUSIN project aims to conserve (trans situ, no less) and use crop wild relatives in Europe.
2. That “use” part can be tough.
3. But that doesn’t stop the fine people at Aardaia. At least where aardaker (Lathyrus tuberosus) is concerned.
4. From alternative potatoes in the Netherlands to alternative beans in Indonesia. All in the cause of diversification.
5. No need to find an alternative to amaranth in the American SW. Not with devoted chefs on the job.
6. The Iraqi Seed Collective is taking seeds from American genebanks to that country’s diaspora in the US, and eventually back to Iraq itself. Maybe chefs will help.
7. Good thing there are genebank backups, eh?
Published on July 9, 2025